An Era of Convergence: Joint Defense between the United States and Canada 1949-1963

U.S. had a larger population, stronger economy and had a history of aggression, Canadians had much to be concerned about.A 1921 Canadian Army record reported the following defense scheme in the event of "probable action of the United States":The main objective of the United States force would undoubtedly be Montreal and on to Ottawa.The next important objective of the United States would be the occupation of the Ontario Peninsula including the cities of Hamilton and Toronto…the grain growing Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta which now have a large percentage of Americans, are especially attractive to the United States, and there is just a possibility that they might make the conquest of these Provinces the ultimate objective of their campaign… 2 The fact that Canada's Army drew up military counter measures is evidence of the fear that Canada had of the United States.3 According to Canadian historians John H. Thompson and Stephen J. Randall in Canada and the United States: Ambivalent Allies, in the early twentieth century, "British strategic planners viewed war with the United States 'a contingency which, however improbable, is not impossible,' but they secretly conceded that a successful defense of Canada was impossible." 4 Even a powerful naval country such as Britain knew that they could not possibly help Canada defend itself against the United States if the U.S. were to invade.However, the assumed failure to defend Canada is not as important as the fact that both Britain and Canada felt that some kind of defense was nonetheless necessary.The fear of a potential invasion from the United States, as it had done in the War of 1812, became a barrier that the U.S. and Canada had to overcome in order for joint defense to become a reality.World War II became an open stage for Canada to begin overcoming its fear of the United States.With the whole world in chaos, the United States was the least of Canada's fears.2 "Extracts from "Defence Scheme No.1".Army Records (April 12, 1921).James Eayrs.In Defence of Canada: From the Great War to the Great Depression.Vol. 1 (Toronto:

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